PP Ed’s Blog: Chris Terry/ P/M Andrew Donaldson’s Funeral/ Letter/ Lohheide Winter School/ Queensland/ FMM Bass Drummer

A lot of interest already in the Shasta Piping Society’s Piobaireachd Composing Competition. The organisers like to keep the panel international and this year it will comprise myself, Bill Livingstone and South African Chris Terry (pictured above). Chatting to Chris at Inverness he said he believed he held a rather unenviable record of being placed in the Gold Medal more times than anyone else without actually winning it. He got…

Happy Ending for Niall and His Missing Bagpipe

After an anxious few days we are pleased to report that top professional piper Niall Stewart has recovered his missing silver and ivory Henderson bagpipe. Niall and pipes are pictured above. The pipes, valued at £6,000 ($8,000US) went missing last Saturday. Niall had left them in the unlocked boot of his car outside his home in the quiet village of Kyle of Lochalsh in the north west Highlands. Going back…

PP Ed’s Blog: Fintan Lalor/ Andrew Donaldson (pix added)/ SG KO/ Florida/ Russian Tune Book

Joe Fitzpatrick from Dublin has sent these names from the above picture of the Fintan Lalor Pipe Band parading in Dublin in the 1960s. Joe writes: ‘In the front row are P/M Tim Keogh, Colum O’Brien, Liam Keogh and P/Sgt Tommy Moore. Middle row from the right are Anthony Fitzpatrick, not sure, Bisto Keogh;  Back – Paddy Leeh, Jimmy Hennessy and myself. The side drummer is Frank Saunders. Some names I…

RSPBA Regradings for 2018 Announced

The RSPBA’s  Music Board met on Saturday 23rd September and approved the first changes for the 2018 season. New Bands: Novice Juvenile B – Thairle Youth – Canada Novice Juvenile B to Novice Juvenile A Oban High School Lochalsh Junior Novice Juvenile A to Juvenile Dollar Academy George Watson College Oban High School Ross and Cromerty Pipes and Drums Grade 4B to 4A Lisnamulligan Kilmarnock Kildoag College of Piping Summerside (Canada)…

Glasgow City Pipe Band and Grade 2 Prospects for 2018

Our Grade 2 watcher MacStig regrets to note that Glasgow City Pipe Band has disbanded after 2 years…… It’s always sad to see a band packing up and calling it a day, and there have been many over the years. Glasgow City tried hard in a very competitive market for players, stepped out in Grade 2, and made it through two seasons, albeit this past season probably signposted challenges with…